Handle-attaching means for door latches



April 23, 1929. L. OTTINGER 1,710,509

HANDLE ATTACHING MEANS FOR DOOR LATCHES Filed Sept. 16, 1926 m cu 13 IllIl i EH1 Q 7 15 157 77 x17 Z] INVENTOR Z6072 02 z'nyar 144b ATTORNEYPatented Apr. 23, 1929. I y

UNITED STATES LEON orrmonn, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

" lnannnrrn'r'monme MEANS non noon LATCHES.

Application filed September 16, 1926. Serial Nb. 135,741.

This invention relates to handle attaching means for door latches, suchmeans however,

being of more or less general application for the purpose of easily andquickly effecting a rigid connection between two parts, which,

however is of such construction as to also admit of said parts beingreadily disconnected from each other when occasion requires withoutdistortion or other damage thereto which would prevent the continued useof said parts or impair their etficiency or serviceability.

However, my present improvements are primarily concerned with theprovision of a simple, reliable andeifective means for quickly attachingor connecting the operating handle to the rollback of a latch mechanismof the type generally used upon automobile doors. I have heretofore,devised several means for effecting such connection of the handle to therollback as disclosed for instance in patents numbered 1,484,406 and1,503,281, issued to me on February 19th and June 29, 1924,respectively. In each of these patented disclosures, it is to be notedthat the end of the handle shaft entering the bore of the rollback islongitudinally split, said split'end of the shaft being expanded againstthe walls of said bore by means of a screw or analogous element. Inorder to enable this expanding screw to be applied, the wall of thelatch case is provided with an opening therein, and in the disclosure ofthe patent first mentioned, the rollback is likewise provided with atransversely extending openin For obvious reasons, the provision of sucopenings in the latch case wall and the rollback is objectionable and ina co-pending application for patent Serial No. 122,762, filed June 16,1926, I have disclosed one means for effecting the connection betweenthe handle and the rollback without providing such additional openingsin the rollback and the wall of the latch case. However, in this caselikewise, the shaft end is longitudinally split and expanded in therollback bore.

I It is one of the important objects of my present improvements tomaterially simplify and improve the handle attaching means as disclosedin the said pending application, and to this end, I'have devised'a simle, reliable and effective attaching means whlch not only obviates-thenecessity of providing the objectionable openings in the rollback andthe latch case wall, but also does not require the longitudinalsplitting of the shaft.

It is another important object of my invention to provide anattachingmember pe'rmanently mounted in the shaft end but axiallyrotative relative thereto, and said member having means whereby a rigidconnection between the shaft end and the rollback is effected merely bya relative rotational movement between the rollback and said attachingmember.

More specifically, I provide the shaft in spaced relation to its endwith suitable stop means to abut against one end of the rollback andlimit the insertion of the shaft end into the bore thereof, and saidrotatable attaching member having a head corresponding in outline formwith the shaft end and in one position thereof movable with the shaftend through said bore, and said head having parts adapted to coact withthe other end of the rollback at the edges of the bore when relativerotation is imparted tothe rollback and attaching member whereby theshaft end is drawn axially through the bore to tightly engage said stopmeans with the other end of the rollback.

It is another detail object of the invention to provide the head of saidattaching member with a means which will effectively coact with the endof the rollback, notwithstanding the fact that in cuttin the borethrough the rollback, a projecting urr extending beyond the end face ofsaid rollback may remain thereon.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved handle attaching means for door latches and in the form,construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated one simple and practicalembodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of an automobile doorillustrating my presentiinvent-ion as applied thereto i Fig. 2 is asimilar horizontal section on an enlarged scale showing the handle shaftend rigidly connected with the rollback;

Fi 3 is a similar horizontal sectional view showing the position of theattaching member when the shaft end is first inserted through the boreof the rollback and before final attachment;

Fig. 4-is asectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

. her as in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of the attaching member.

The latch construction which I have par-- tially illustrated in theaccompanying drawing constitutes no essential feature of the presentinvention, and it will be understood as this description proceeds thatthe subject matter of this application is capable of adaptation and usein connection with many different types of door latches now known in theart and also in various other instances where a quickly attachable anddetachable connection between a rod or shaft and complementary part mayprove to be of material advantage, the invention to be presentlydescribed will be found desirable. However,

since the use of the invention in connection with automobile doorlatches is particularly advantageous in the interests of expeditingproduction and reducing material and labor costs, I have selected thisapplication of the invention for illustrative purposes, and accordingly,in the accompanying drawing I have shown a portion of an automobile door5. The inner face of this door is mortised in the usual manner toreceive the latch casing 6 within which the latch bolt and projectingand retracting mechanism therefor-are mounted. The latch bolt retractingmeans includes the customary rollback 7 WlllCh is journalled foroscillating or rocking movement at its ends in spaced parts of the latchcase 6. This rollback is usually provided with a projecting arm, and maybe of any desired form requisite to insure its proper cooperation with apart on the latch bolt or other means whereby the bolt is retracted whensaid rollback is oscillated in one direction. This rollback is providedwith ay'longitudinally extending bore 8 which may be of any desiredcross sectional form or shape, but the said bore as herein shown isrectangular and preferably' square.

The door structure 5 has a transversely extending handle receivingopening 9 bored therethrough substantially in line with the rollback 7.As herein shown, in the outer end of this opening, a combined handleshaft bearing and escutcheon member 10 is secured. This member which ispreferably in the form of a sheet metal sleeve having an enlargedannular head at the outer face of the door in which a yieldable bushingof felt or other compressible material is contained, constitutes noessential part of the present disclosure,'as it is fully shown,described and clalmed' in a second co-pending application for patentfiled March 3, 1924, Serial No.

cally accommodating itself to any discrepancies in axial alignmentbetween the opening 9 and the rollback 7 and likewise provides a more orless ornamental escutcheon surrounding the handle shaft at the outerface of the door.

The operating handle for the latch includes a cylindrical shaft portion.11 extending through the member 10 and a reduced portion 12 havingsubstantially the same cross sectional form as the bore 8 of therollback 7' whereby the end of said shaft section 12 will have snugfitting engagement in said bore.

In spaced relation to the end face of the shaft section 12, said shaftsect-ion is provided with a suitable stop means to abut against theouter end of the rollback 7 and limit the insertion of the shaft endthrough the bore 8. Preferably, this stop means is integrally formedwith the handle shaft, and in the present instance, I have shown themetal of said shaft end at the meeting edges of its several faces swagedoutwardly to provide a plurality of stop lugs or projections 13.

The end of the shaft section '12 is further provided with an axiallycentered cylindrical bore 14. This bore is adapted to loosely receivethe cylindrical shank 15 of the attach.- ing member, said shank beingprovided at a point intermediate of its ends with a circumferentiallyextending groovej16. While various means might be employed for retainingthis attaching member in connection with the shaft end against axialmovement relative thereto, I find it most convenient for this purpose toindent each side of the rectangular shaft end to thereby produce theprojections or protuberances 17 ,on the wall of the bore 14.- whichextend into the circumferential groove 16 of the shank 15. Thus thisshank and the shaft end may have a relative rotational movement while atthe same time the attaching member is effectively held againstdisconnection from the shaft by an axial movement relative thereto.

Upon the outer head 18 is formed. This head is also preferably square,the dimensions thereof corre-- sponding with the cross sectionaldimensions of the shaft end 12. Thus, in one position of said attachingmember, it will be understood that each edge face of this head 18 willbe positioned in the plane of one of the side faces of the square shaftend. This head 18 is comparatively thin, and at the corners thereofnextad acent to the shank 15, the i,

end of the shank 15 the the cam surfaces 19 to this convex outer facejections 13 do not project beyond the periphcry of the cylindrical part11 of the handle shaft. Therefore, the square section 12 of the shafthaving these projections thereon can be readily inserted through thebearing of the drawings.

bushing 10 and the end of said shaft section 12 engaged in the bore 8 ofthe rollback. As above stated, such insertion of the shaft end islimited by contact of the stop lug 13 against the outer end of therollback 7. I preferably so position these lugs 13 that when they engagethe end of the rollback, the end face of the shaft section 12 is spacedinwardly about one-sixty-fourth (1/64) of an inch from the inner endface of the rollback. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

It is of course, understood that when the shaft end is thus insertedthrough the rollback bore, the head 18 of the attaching member ispositioned with its edge faces in the planes of the respective faces ofthe shaft as seen in Fig. 4 Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, said head willproject beyond the inner end face of the rollback, the cam surfaces 19at the corners thereof extending from the edges of the rollback boreinwardly to the end face of the shaft. Suitable means is provided forengagement withthe head 18 to hold the attaching member stationary. Forthis purpose, I have shown in the drawings, a simple metal bar 22 havinga rectangular groove 23 cut in one side face thereof. It is usual tosupply such doors to the automobile manufacturer with the latch'appliedand the upholstery indicated at 24 extending over the inner side wall ofthe latch case so that it only remains for the manufacturer to apply thelatch operating handle. The upholstery at its outer vertical edge is nottightly aflixed to the wall of the latch case, so that the bar or othertool 22 can be easily-inserted between the latch case wall andtheupholstery and the projecting head. 18 of the attaching member engagedin the channel or groove 23 of said bar. While the bar 22 and therefore,the attaching member are held stationary, the handle shaft andconsequently the rollback 7 are rotated through an angle ofapproximately 45, the bar 22 being then removed.

Accordingly, the bore through the rollback and the end of the shaftsection 12 will be positioned relative to the head 18 of the attachingmember as seen in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Obviously therefore, each ofthe cam surfaces 19 of the head 18 will cooperate with the end face ofthe rollback at one edge of its bore 8 and by such frictional coactionbetween said cam surfaces and the end face of the rollback, the end ofthe handle shaft will be pulled axially, thereby drawing the stop lugsor projections 13 into tight binding engagement against the outer endface of the rollback. In this manner, the shaft end will be positivelylocked in the bore of the rollback so that the two parts will thereafteroperate as a unit. In such operation of the handle shaft to'retrac-t thelatch bolt, since .the rollback, the shaft end and the attaching memberall rotate together, and there is no possibility ofrelative rotationbetween the square shaft end and the rollback, there will be no'tendencyof the head of the attaching member to return to a position in alignmentwith the bore through the rollback.

It is sometimes necessary, as in repainting the automobile door tbremove the latch oper- I ating handle. This may be readily done bysimply engaging the end of the tool 22 with the head 18 of the attachingmember and then .again rotating the handle shaft and rollback through anangle of 45, whereby the edge faces of the head 18 of the attachingmember are again positioned in parallelism with the walls of therollback bore. The handle shaft may then be readily withdrawn.

It sometimes occurs in the manufacture of the rollbacks, that in cuttingthe bore 8 therethrough, a slight burr of metal will be-left at I theend of the bore projecting beyond the end face of the rollback, and thisburr is not removed before applying the latch handle.

Even in such cases, my improved attaching meanswill nevertheless operateeffectively, as it is found that the relatively sharp corners 21 of thehead 18 will cut through such a projecting burr, it being understoodthat this attaching member is subjected to a hardening heat treatmentand is harder than the metal of the rollback.

' From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation and severaladvantages of my present invention will be clearly and fully understood.It will be seen that I have materially improved upon the devicesdisclosed in my prior patents and applications, in that the shaft end isnot longitudinally split, and instead of relying upon a wedging orexpanding action binding the sections of the shaft against the walls ofthe rollback bore, I provide means permanently associated with the shaftend for positively and effectively locking said shaft end in connectionwith the rollback at the opposite ends thereof, and thereby completelyovercoming any tendency which might otherwise exist for said rollbackand the shaft end to rotate relative to each other. In addition, it isalso obvious that by means of my present improvements, the connection ordisconnection of the shaft end .to or from the rollback may bemuch moreeasily and quickly made than in the prior devices,

I have herein disclosed an embodiment of my present improvements which Ihave found to be highly effective for the purpose in view. It willnevertheless, be understood that the es sential features of the deviceare susceptible of embodiment in various other alternative forms, and Iaccordingly reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimatechanges therein as may be fairly incorporated-within the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a door latch including a rollback having a bore,a shaft having stop means limiting the insertion of the shaft throughsaid bore, and a member mounted on said shaft and having a part movablewith respect to the shaft in a plane intersecting the shaft axis, saidpart in one position being insertable with the shaft through said boreand in another position coacting with said roolback to preventwithdrawal of the shaft from said bore and hold said stop means in closeabutting contact with one end of said rollback.

2. In combination with a door latch including a rollback having a bore,a shaft having stop means limiting the insertion of the'shaft throughsaid bore, and a member permanently mounted on said shaft and having apart movable with respect to the shaft in a plane intersecting the shaftaxis, said part in one position being movable with the shaft throughsaid bore and adapted'for movement to another position, aftertheinsertion of the shaft, and into coacting relation with said rollback toprevent withdrawal of the shaft from said bore and hold said stop meansin close abutting contact-with one endofsaid rollback. I

3. In combination with a door latch including a rollback having a bore,a shaft having stop means limiting the insertion of the shaft throughsaid bore, a part contacting with the end face of said shaft, and meanspermanently connecting said part and the shaft for relative rotation,said part in one position being movable with the shaft through said boreand coacting with said rollback upon relative rotation between said partand the shaft to prevent withdrawal of the shaft from said bore and holdsaid stop means in close abultiting contact with one end of said rollbacing a rollback having a polygonal shaped bore, a shaft having an endportion of corresponding shape for engagement in said bore and providedwith stop means spaced from the end face of the shaft to limit itsinsertion through said bore, a part of corresponding outline shape tothe shaft end, and means permanently connecting said part and the shaftfor relative rotation, said part contacting with the end face of theshaft and in 4. In combination with a door latch includ one positionbeing movable with the shaft end 5 through said bore whereby upon therotation of said rollback and the shaft relative to said part, thelatter is caused to coact with one end of said rollback to preventwithdrawal part and the shaft for relative rotation, saidpart contactingwith the end face of the shaft and in one position being movable withthe shaft end through said bore, the face of said part opposed to theshaft end having cam surfaces adapted to coact with the end edges ofsaid bore upon rotation of said element and the shaft relative to saidpart to prevent withdrawal of the shaft end from the bore and axiallymove said shaft to tightly bind said stop means against the other end ofsaid element.

6. In combination with a latch mounted upon the inner face of a door andhaving a rollback provided witha polygonal shaped bore, an operatinghandle shaft having an end portion of corresponding shape for insertionthrough said bore and provided at its meeting faces in spaced relationto the end face thereof with lateral projections constituting stops toengage one end of the rollback, and a part engaged with the end face ofthe shaft and means permanently connecting said part and shaft forrelative rotation,

said part in outline form and dimensions cor responding with the crosssectional form and dimensions of theshaft end and in one positionrelative thereto being movablewith said shaft end through the bore ofthe rollback, and said part having means automatically relative rotationbetween the shaft end and rollback and said part to prevent withdrawalof the shaft end from said bore and also positively move the shaft endaxially into the bore and closely bind said stop projections of theshaft against the other end of the rolladapted to be connected, and saidpart having I10 coacting with one end of the rollback upon a meansadapted to coact with said rollback upon relative movement between saidart and the shaft end to cause said part an the stop means tofrictionally bind against the opposite ends of said rollback and securethe shaft end against movement relative thereto.

8. In combination with an element having a bore, a shaft having stopmeans limiting the insertion of one end of the shaft into said bore, arelatively adjustable member and means connecting said member with theshaft, said member having cam meansadapted to coact with said elementand draw the shaft end axially through said bore to ti htly engage saidstop means with one end 0 said element. x

9. In combination with an element having a bore, a shaft having stopmeans limiting the insertion of one end of the shaft into said bore, amember having cam means and means rotatably connecting said member withthe shaft end with the cam means of said member positioned externally ofthe bore for coacting engagement with the ed es of the bore upon therotation of said mom or to thereby draw the shaft end axially throughsaid bore and tightly engage said stop means with one end of saidelement.

10. In combination with a door latch including a rollback having apolygonal shaped bore, a shaft having an end portion of correspondingcross sectional form to snugly fit within said bore and provided withstop means to limit the insertion of said shaft end into the bore, and arelatively adjustable member inseparably connected with one of saidparts and having cam means coacting with the other part upon theadjustment of said member to positively draw the shaft end through saidbore and tightly engage the stop means with one end of said rollback.

11. The combination with a latch casing having polygonally aperturedmeans for retracting the bolt thereof, of a rotatable actuating shafttherefor, and a single, separate, irremovable element angularly ofl'setrotationally for preventing withdrawal of said I shaft. 1

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name here- LEON OTTINGER.

